Friday, February 25, 2005

10 Voters on Panel Backing Pain Pills Had Industry Ties

The New York Times article: (Registration required.)

"Ten of the 32 government drug advisers who last week endorsed continued marketing of the huge-selling pain pills Celebrex, Bextra and Vioxx have consulted in recent years for the drugs' makers, according to disclosures in medical journals and other public records.

"If the 10 advisers had not cast their votes, the committee would have voted 12 to 8 that Bextra should be withdrawn and 14 to 8 that Vioxx should not return to the market. The 10 advisers with company ties voted 9 to 1 to keep Bextra on the market and 9 to 1 for Vioxx's return."

This says something about the quality of knowledge one gets depending on the FDA.

1 comment:

Blair Anderson said...

FDA, COX-2 ethicals and "conflict of interest" is explored revealing systemic harm maximisation at http://mildgreens.blogspot.com/2005/02/big-pharma-vs-grannies-special-tea.html
The implications for public health are very serious. Further, that this medical anomoly is manifest on a global scale predicated on deception, lies and obsfucations enforced using gun barrel politics and unlimited budgets. COX-2 merchandising is quite possibly the gravest consequence of the war on 'some' drugs.